The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has announced that the new Compliance Standard will be effective from April 1st onward.

The following documents will enter into effect:
1. The new International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS); and
2. The limited number of revised World Anti-Doping Code (Code) articles related to Code compliance, which the ISCCS necessitates.

The ISCCS, which was adopted by WADA’s Executive Committee in November 2017, will reinforce the Agency’s Code Compliance Monitoring Program. It was refined via a two-phase stakeholder consultation process that ran from 1 June to 14 October 2017 and was overseen by WADA’s independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC); during which, stakeholders were asked to comment on development of the ISCCS that outlines:
• Code Signatories’ rights and responsibilities;
• the ways WADA supports Signatories in achieving, maintaining and, where applicable, regaining Code compliance; and
• a range of graded, predictable and proportionate sanctions for cases of non-compliance by Signatories; and, a process for determining non-compliance and consequences.

By way of example, and as a reminder to:
•    International Federations (IFs), under the revised Code article 20.3.11, which relates to Roles and Responsibilities of IFs, it stipulates ‘To accept bids for World Championships and other International Events only from countries where the government has ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to the UNESCO Convention and the National Olympic Committee and National Anti-Doping Organization are in compliance with the Code.’
•    Major Event Organizations (MEOs), under the revised Code article 20.6.6, which relates to Roles and Responsibilities of MEOs, it stipulates ‘To accept bids for Events only from countries where the government has ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to the UNESCO Convention and the National Olympic Committee and National Anti-Doping Organization are in compliance with the Code.’